First of the Year Backup Reminder - Wake-up Call

[Debbi]

Every hard drive dies - you've been told this and/or you know first hand. I have had to rebuild my computer at work 3 times in the last 2 years due to hard drive failures. Because of that I am extremely anal about backing up. However, odd scenarios do happen. I learned long ago to not store my images on my computer hard drive so I have two external drives. One for storage and one for backups.

I got up really early this morning (hate that DH works on Saturdays). Anyway, the kiddo was asleep and the dog was quiet. I decided to make use of that time and get some work done. I opened up Bridge and went to locate some images - my external drive is not showing up. Not panicking yet, I checked my backup drive. Whew, my backup is only a couple of weeks old (I got behind during the holidays). After making sure all of the power cables, usb cables, etc. were properly seated, I rebooted (it does fix a lot of things). Still no external storage drive. I swapped usb cables and plugged them into different ports. I can still see my backup drive but no storage drive. Ugh. So, I started my recovery. I don't have enough free disc space on my computer, so I decided to recover to the backup drive (more than enough room). This may be a bad practice (I know it's not preferred) but I had to get the images back. I come back to check on it after 30 minutes or so and it has had a write failure - and my backup is no longer on the drive - WTF. By this time, I am feeling sick and close to tears. I checked my storage drive on another computer - no go. Took a couple of deep breaths and shut the computer completely down. I then swapped the power cables for the external drives (the only thing I hadn't done) After rebooting, I now have access to my storage drive, but not the backup drive. So, after two hours of increasing panic, the drives are fine but one of the power cables is not - even though the drive is showing it has power.

Needless to say, I'm gonna try and get the power cable replaced by Western Digital (it's only a couple of months old) and I have just purchased yet another backup drive. Drives are too cheap these days to not do it.

Sorry this is long but wanted to share that strange things do happen and if you don't back up at all - Start NOW!

Happy New Year everyone!

[janetg]

yep - that's why i keep everything on smugmug! today i noticed i had completely forgotten 2 entire months of photos! so backing those up now.

also lost a drive at christmas - and thanks to SMUGMUG - when i hooked up my new drive - using star explorer - just downloaded everything just as it was - never had to even go look for the dvd's.

just my own incredibly retentive method...dvd backup and offsite backup as well.

[Debbi]

Does smugmug allow for RAW files? I have been thinking about an online storage solution but so far haven't found anything that will accept RAW files.

[janetg]

no one as far as i know stores raw files - but i also back those up to dvd's. i figure at the very least - if something happens to my house, or whatever, i've at least got my jpg files.

i have uploaded some to my server at times, and lunarpages doesn't like that - but i just zip them, then they don't know what kind of file it is and they quit hasseling me.

OH - i also use mozy.com - for other types of file backups - i suppose you could backup your raw files with that - it's $5.00 per month - and all my outlook, doc, pdf's..anything really - and you can set it up to backup 10 times a day if you like - i just set mine to go off at midnight.

[Debbi]

Thanks, Janet. I'll check out mozy.com.

[robh1920]

Carbonite will back up all your hard drives and continue every time you put something on it. Thats what I use. If your interested let me know I can refer you and you get an extra month free plus I will get three months free

It takes several days for the first upload but then everytime you load new images they will grab them for you and its stored. Its all encrypted. Now if my hard drive crashes I just reload from them.

Robert

I think its only 39 a year.

[Debbi]

How long have you been using them?

[robh1920]

I just started but got a recommendation from a friend who has been using them for while (dont know how long). He was the one that sold me on them. I like it because I dont have to do anything. It does it all automatically.

[Goaliesgirl]

I know this has been discussed here before, but I wanted to add to the wake up call. New Year's Eve a friend of mine's house burned to the ground, total loss ( Thankfully, no one was home). She is a just a mom with a camera so to speak but she is very into scrapbooking and had backups of her picture files on DVDs in "fire proof" safes. Those were destroyed also.
Online storage is a good option. I know situations like hers are rare and would probably never happen to any of us. I just wanted to remind everybody, that hard drive crashes aren't the only danger.

[robh1920]

I agree with you Dawn. If you are going to back up on DVD you need two copies. One for your home and one kept off site. I think online backup is the way to go.

[Debbi]

Dawn, situations like that are not as rare as you think. Between fires, tornadoes and hurricanes (depending on where you live), it's a real possibility. Our home burned to the ground in 1999. It happens.

Robert, I'm doing some research and will probably get with you about your online solution.

[robh1920]

Thanks Debbi,
The whole referral thing is a good way to go. You get a free month to start. An I can always use some free months.... or free anything as far as that goes LOL

I just need an email if you decide to go with them. you can PM that.

Robert.

[Allen]

Is .mac a good place to store photos?

[carrbowl]

Ok...I heard or maybe read somewhere that saving jpeg is a lousy idea, because the more you open and close the file, the worse the file becomes. They recommended only saving the RAW files?? I'm guessing this is another one of those "depends who you talk to things"???